THE SLENDER SEED-CORN GROUND-BEETLE. 



23 



On June 7, 1907, Mr. Baker's field was examined, corn having again 

 been planted in the same field. The first planting of the field was 

 made during the first week in May, and it was replanted about May 20. 

 The field was flooded by heavy rains after each planting. Mr. Baker 

 thought the cool, wet weather was responsible for the poor stand, 

 but as he had never examined into the cause, it is very probable that 

 the ground-beetle exacted its usual toll. The field was then planted 

 for the third time, about the middle of June. Very little of this last 

 planting was injured. It seems that, as a rule, corn planted about 

 the middle of June in this locality is not troubled to any great extent. 

 Experimental plantings made in these fields during the summers of 



Fig. 14. — Same field as in figure 13, about the first week of July, 1908, showing results of combined work 

 of the slender seed-corn ground-beetle and cutworms. (Original. ) 



1906 and 1907 were rarely disturbed, though there were plenty of beetles 

 abroad at the time. No other reason can be assigned for this, except 

 that early in the season the beetles, being ordinarily carnivorous and 

 finding animal food scarce, turn their attention to the palatable corn, 

 whereas later, with animal food plentiful, they do not molest the corn. 

 May 14, 1908, Mr. Baker's fields were examined and the beetles 

 found to be quite abundant, often as many as 30 to the square yard 

 being found. Corn had not been planted up to this date, but the 

 ground-beetle did considerable injury to this field later. Cutworms, 

 probably Agrotis ypsilon Rott., and the beetles together destroyed at 

 least 50 per cent of the corn on the lower part of the field, fully one- 

 half of this being the work of the beetles. Figure 14 shows the con- 

 dition of the field about the first week in July. 



